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University of Colorado's Embree had no chance to build team

Posted:
12/02/2012 01:00:00 AM MST

Jon Embree was fired a week ago today as head coach of the University of Colorado football team. He finished his second season 1-11. The rank and file would have all believe it was the worst in the program's history.

The glimmer of hope Embree could get CU on the right path had flickered out. After all, his overall record was 4-21. They say athletic director Mike Bohn had to make this move before it got worse.

Before the fog of hyperbole gets any thicker, let's revisit some history on the Buffs.

The year was 1984: Bill McCartney completed his third season with a 1-10 record. Over his first three seasons, McCartney compiled seven wins.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

McCartney was given an extension and the rest is history. The very next season, he led CU to the Freedom Bowl. The fact the university made a pledge to consistency after that 1-10 season led to the Buffs' co-national championship with Georgia Tech in 1991. It's the only national title in CU football history, and what all associated with the program these days pine for.

Had Bohn, chancellor Phil DiStefano and president Bruce Benson been around in 1984, the magic McCartney brought to Colorado would have never happened. They would have been too impatient. They wouldn't have given Coach Mac the time he needed to make the Buffs a national powerhouse.

No one is suggesting Embree would have followed in McCartney's steps, but we will never know.

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It is common practice to give college football coaches four years. That allows them time to recruit their style of players and put their stamp on the team. By year four, the first recruiting class is seniors and most get a good gauge for where the team stands. After that fourth season is when the change needs to come, if it is needed.

Without consistency, programs never have a puncher's chance at the hope of success.

When athletic directors let boosters run their program, a mess like the one at CU is certain to follow.

With how former coach Dan Hawkins left the Buffs after five years and a record of 19-39, Embree deserved to get his four years and a chance to build some consistency in a program that is in dire need of it.

Amid all the hyperbole of how awful this 1-11 season was for Colorado, how Embree was in over his head and the program was on the wrong path, remember the 1-10 mark in 1984 and what followed for the Buffs.

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